2008 Woodie Awards
WSU erasing history atop parody-filled Big Sky
Jon McBride
Issue date: 10/13/08 Section: Sports
The Weber State University Football Team is doing things it hasn't done in a long time.
Saturday's win at a snowy Montana State University was the first for the Wildcats against the Bobcats in the past seven seasons. The Wildcats' win the previous week against the University of Montana was WSU's first over the Grizzlies in the past 10 seasons.
The win over the Grizzlies gave WSU its first national ranking in the past eight seasons. The Wildcats now sit at No. 22 in the country, waiting to see if they'll be bumped when the latest NCAA Division FCS poll gets released today.
Needless to say, this is the best football team WSU has fielded in a long time.
Perhaps unfortunately for the Wildcats, they're facing some of the best football teams that other schools in the Big Sky Conference have fielded in a long time.
Regardless, so far the Wildcats have fared well in conference play, going 3-0 against three teams with a lot of talent. California State University, Sacramento - the Wildcats' first Big Sky opponent; Montana; and Montana State all came into matchups with the Wildcats very evenly matched. But the Wildcats pulled away from each of them with solid offensive and defensive performances, executing when they have needed to most.
Now the Wildcats face a remaining schedule full of tough Big Sky teams. Next Saturday they'll host the University of Northern Colorado at Stewart Stadium. The Bears picked up their first win of the season Saturday against Idaho State.
University, winning convincingly, 29-9. Don't let Northern Colorado's 1-4 start fool you though. In the Bears' only other conference game, they lost to No. 18 Northern Arizona University - the only team undefeated team in the Big Sky right now other than the Wildcats - 25-22.
After facing the Bears at home, the Wildcats head on the road to face Northern Arizona for what could be a battle for the outright lead in the Big Sky.
Then the 'Cats face Portland State University, who shocked then-No. 11 Eastern Washington University, beating them in a 47-36 shootout.
Then the 'Cats have a bye week … I mean they face Idaho State University, which is kind of like a bye week. The Bengals have lost nine consecutive games. That's the third-longest losing streak in the NCAA Division FCS. Then again, if WSU goes into the Idaho State matchup with the same kind of sarcasm I displayed at the beginning of this paragraph, the Wildcats may be in trouble.
Then the 'Cats have their actual bye week.
Then the Wildcats close up the regular season against Eastern Washington, who along with Montana, was one of the preseason favorites to win the Big Sky.
So even with the early-season sweep on the Montana teams - the first sweep for the Wildcats over the two teams in 21 seasons - it's still a very long road ahead for WSU in the parody-filled Big Sky. But with the Wildcats quickly erasing history, they have a very good chance to get a piece of their first Big Sky Championship since 1968.
Saturday's win at a snowy Montana State University was the first for the Wildcats against the Bobcats in the past seven seasons. The Wildcats' win the previous week against the University of Montana was WSU's first over the Grizzlies in the past 10 seasons.
The win over the Grizzlies gave WSU its first national ranking in the past eight seasons. The Wildcats now sit at No. 22 in the country, waiting to see if they'll be bumped when the latest NCAA Division FCS poll gets released today.
Needless to say, this is the best football team WSU has fielded in a long time.
Perhaps unfortunately for the Wildcats, they're facing some of the best football teams that other schools in the Big Sky Conference have fielded in a long time.
Regardless, so far the Wildcats have fared well in conference play, going 3-0 against three teams with a lot of talent. California State University, Sacramento - the Wildcats' first Big Sky opponent; Montana; and Montana State all came into matchups with the Wildcats very evenly matched. But the Wildcats pulled away from each of them with solid offensive and defensive performances, executing when they have needed to most.
Now the Wildcats face a remaining schedule full of tough Big Sky teams. Next Saturday they'll host the University of Northern Colorado at Stewart Stadium. The Bears picked up their first win of the season Saturday against Idaho State.
University, winning convincingly, 29-9. Don't let Northern Colorado's 1-4 start fool you though. In the Bears' only other conference game, they lost to No. 18 Northern Arizona University - the only team undefeated team in the Big Sky right now other than the Wildcats - 25-22.
After facing the Bears at home, the Wildcats head on the road to face Northern Arizona for what could be a battle for the outright lead in the Big Sky.
Then the 'Cats face Portland State University, who shocked then-No. 11 Eastern Washington University, beating them in a 47-36 shootout.
Then the 'Cats have a bye week … I mean they face Idaho State University, which is kind of like a bye week. The Bengals have lost nine consecutive games. That's the third-longest losing streak in the NCAA Division FCS. Then again, if WSU goes into the Idaho State matchup with the same kind of sarcasm I displayed at the beginning of this paragraph, the Wildcats may be in trouble.
Then the 'Cats have their actual bye week.
Then the Wildcats close up the regular season against Eastern Washington, who along with Montana, was one of the preseason favorites to win the Big Sky.
So even with the early-season sweep on the Montana teams - the first sweep for the Wildcats over the two teams in 21 seasons - it's still a very long road ahead for WSU in the parody-filled Big Sky. But with the Wildcats quickly erasing history, they have a very good chance to get a piece of their first Big Sky Championship since 1968.
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